WEBVTT
>> I'M SITTING ACROSS FROM A MAN
PWHO GOT $5K IN DIRTY MONEY FROM
PLAW FIRM IN BOSTON.
PREPORTER: IT WAS SCOTT MILNE'S
PONE SHOT, A WEEK BEFORE THE
PELECTION, TO CHALLENGE SENATOR
PPAT LEAHY HEAD-TO-HEAD, AND THAT
PMADE FOR A TESTY AFFAIR ON
PVERMONT PUBLIC RADIO.
P>> HE ATTACKS ME. IF IT MAKES
PHIM HAPPY, GO AHEAD AND DO IT.
PREPORTER: THE REPUBLCIAN FRAMED
PLEAHY AS A CAREER POLITICIAN WHO
PCOZIES UP TO LOBBYISTS, AND HAS
PLITTLE TO SHOW AFTER 42 YEARS IN
PWASHINGTON.
P>> ELECTION WILL DO MORE TO
PCHANGE CAMPAIGN FINANCE
PSTRUCTURE IN WASHINGTON THAN
PANYTHING MY OPPONENT COULD DO IN
PNEXT 6 YEARS.
PREPORTER: THE DEMOCRAT FIRED
PBACK, SAYING HIS SENIORITY HAD
PMEANT MILLIONS MORE FEDERAL TAX
PDOLLARS FOR VERMONT, AND SAID
PMILNE WOULD HELP MAKE MITCH
PMCCONNELL SENATE LEADER
P>> WHY DO YOU SUPPORT, SUPPORT,
P>> LET LEAHY ANSWER.
P>> WE'LL GIVE YOU TIME TO LEVEL
PALL YOUR NEGATIVE CHARGES
PAGAINST ME YOU'VE GOT THEM DOWN.
P>> THEY'RE ALL TO YOU BEING
PCAREER POLITICIAN.
P>> YOU STRONGLY SUPPORT THEY
PREPUBLICAN LEADER WHO IS THE
PBIGGEST.
P>> I SAID IF YOU CONCEDE YOU CAN
PTELL ME WHO TO VOTE FOR.
PREPORTER: THE TWO AGREED
PMARIJUANA SHOULD BE A ISSUE LEFT
PTO THE STATES AND AGREED ANY
PPRESIDENT'S SUPREME COURT
PNOMINEE DESERVES AN UP OR DOWN
PVOTE.
PBUT AGREED ON NOT MUCH ELSE.
P>> PEOPLE HAVE SEEN WHAT I'VE
PDONE FOR VERMONT. AFTER
PHURRICANE IRENE I COULD BRING
PFAR MORE MONEY TO VERMONT THAN
PANYONE ELSE.
P>> I BELIEVE, WHEN THE VOTES ARE
PCOUNTED, IT'LL BE A BIG UPSET.
PFOLKS IT'S GRASSROOTS. IT'S
PPOSSIBLE
PREPORTER THE TWO CANDIDATES --
PYOU KNOW, AT ONE POINT, SENATOR
PLEAHY CHALLENGED SCOTT MOUNTAIN
PNAME THREE FOREIGN LEADERS THAT
PHE RESPECTED AND HE COULD ONLY
PNAME TO.
P-- COULD ONL NAME TWO.

In the final week before Vermont voters cast their ballots, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Scott Milne finally got what he wanted -- a debate with incumbent Democrat Patrick Leahy.

The noon appearance on Vermont Public Radio Wednesday was the only one-on-one exchange Leahy agreed to participate in before the election.

Advertisement

It’s clear there is no love lost between the two men.

"I’m sitting across from a man who got $5,000 in dirty money from law firm in Boston," Milne said of Leahy as the debate got underway.

Milne repeatedly chastised the seven-term lawmaker for his breadth of special interest contributions, including donations from partners at Thornton Law Firm which the Boston Globe has reported reimbursed employee donations made to Democrats.

Leahy has resisted calls he return the money as other New England politicians have done.

The Democrat repeatedly complained Milne had run a campaign lacking in policy, with nothing positive to say.

Milne referred to Leahy as a career politician who cozies up to lobbyists and had little to show for his 42 years in Washington.

"My election will do more to change campaign finance structure in Washington than anything my opponent could do in next six years," Milne said.

He also tagged Leahy "the godfather" of the EB-5 foreign investor program linked to a sweeping financial scandal enveloping resorts in Vermont’s northeast Kingdom.

But Leahy said his seniority in the Senate helps direct federal money back to Vermont.

"People have seen what I’ve done for Vermont," Leahy said. "After Hurricane Irene I could bring far more money to Vermont than anyone else."

During one section of the debate, Leahy asked Milne to name three foreign leaders he admires, noting Milne hopes to serves on the Foreign Relations committee.

Milne named Angela Merkel of Germany, and "the new leader" in Britain, without naming Theresa May.

The two agreed marijuana legalization should be a issue left to the states, and agreed every Supreme Court nominee deserves an up or down vote, something Senate Republicans have blocked all year with President Obama’s nomination of Judge Merrick Garland.

Milne may be trailing in the polls but assured listeners, "I believe, when the votes are counted, it’ll be a big upset. Folks it’s grassroots. It’s possible."